National Aged Care Data Asset (linked data)
Last updated: 16 December 2025
Scope and coverage of the NACDA
Accessing data from the NACDA
Projects using the NACDA
Future expansion of the NACDA
Other linked aged care data assets
Related pages about our data
Contact
The National Aged Care Data Asset (NACDA) is one of AIHW’s linked data assets.
The NACDA brings together de-identified person-level data collected across aged care, health and other community service settings for aged care research purposes.
The NACDA was launched by the AIHW in 2024. Its purpose is to better understand the pathways, experiences and outcomes of people receiving aged care, and the operation and performance of the aged care system.
It is an enduring asset, meaning data will be updated regularly and new tables and data sources added over time.
Scope and coverage of the NACDA
As at December 2025, the NACDA comprises de-identified person-level aged care from the National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse (NACDC) linked to de-identified person-level data for Medicare-subsidised services, prescription medicines, immunisations, cancer screening and cancer diagnosis, hospitalisations, intensive care, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and deaths. New data sources are added regularly.
The NACDA contains aged care data from 1997, and this is updated annually (typically within 15 months of the end of each financial year). Other data sources in the NACDA have different time spans and update cycles.
For more information on scope, linkage rates and other data characteristics of the NACDA, see National Aged Care Data Asset: Data resource profile.
For more information on current data available in the NACDA, including data variable lists, see National Health Data Hub: Data & data items.
Accessing data from the NACDA
The NACDA is available for both government and non-government researchers to access via the National Health Data Hub (NHDH).
Data is accessible via virtual secure access environments for approved projects and by researchers with experience in linked data analysis.
For more information about accessing the NACDA via the NHDH, see National Health Data Hub: How to access the NHDH.
Projects using the NACDA
As at October 2025, there were 31 active (fully approved) projects using the NACDA via the NHDH. For a list of all NHDH projects, see National Health Data Hub: Approved projects and status.
Outputs from AIHW projects using the NACDA are reported in select publications on the GEN Aged Care Data website.
For examples of NACDA analyses undertaken by the AIHW, see Interfaces between the aged care and health systems.
Future expansion of the NACDA
The NACDA was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Royal Commission) to ensure reliable and comprehensive data about the sector is available for research.
The AIHW is responsible for delivering the NACDA. We develop and update the NACDA in consultation with research, non-government, peak body and government stakeholders.
We are expanding the NACDA to include aged care data on care quality, workforce and financials – as outlined by the Royal Commission. These data are collected at the aged care provider level (or for each residential care home/service delivery branch).
Data sources planned for inclusion in a de-identified aged care provider-level data module in the NACDA are:
- National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program
- Star Ratings for residential aged care
- Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse coverage
- Compliance (regulatory notices, quality standards)
- Aged Care Financial Report and Quarterly Financial Report (which includes some aged care workforce data).
We are working with data custodians to create rules for accessing and using the aged care provider-level data module. Once finalised, these arrangements will be published in the NHDH Governance protocols.
The aged care provider-level data module is expected to be available in the NACDA by the end of 2026.
Other linked aged care data assets
In addition to the NACDA, aged care data is available for researchers to access in the following national linked data assets:
These assets have different scope and coverage of aged care data, compared with the NACDA, and may include different non-aged care data sources.
Each asset has its own approved uses and governance arrangements.
Related pages about our data
National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse
AIHW linked data assets (aihw.gov.au)
Contact
For more information, contact the NACDA team through our Enquiry form.
